Karmic Judge

Way of the Karmic Judge

The Way of the Karmic Judge channels the powers of karmic balance, justice, and judgment, drawing inspiration from Judge Enma, the fearsome ruler of the underworld and arbiter of souls. Practitioners of this path act as mortal agents of karmic justice, marking and weighing the deeds of others to determine their fate. With powers to curse wrongdoers, protect the innocent, and grant redemption to the willing, Karmic Judges embody both righteous wrath and divine compassion. They serve as both judge and protector, meting out karmic retribution while offering pathways for atonement.

Subclass Spells

At 3rd, 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th levels, you gain access to the following spells, which are always prepared and do not count against your number of spells prepared.
Level Spells

3rd Bane, Karma's Hand

5th Zone of Truth, Mark of Judgement

9th Bestow Curse, Rebuke the Wicked

13th Banishment, Geas

17th Hallow, Wheel of Karma

Karmic Seal

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to place Karmic Seals on creatures. As a bonus action, you can mark a creature you can see within 60 feet with a Karmic Seal for 1 minute. While the seal is active:

The creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against you and your allies.

Whenever the sealed creature deals damage, it takes radiant or necrotic damage (your choice) equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once) and regain all expended uses after a long rest.

Judge Enma’s Curse

At 6th level, you can impose a curse upon those you judge unworthy. When you hit a creature marked with your Karmic Seal with an attack, you can spend 2 Karma Points to place a Judge Enma’s Curse on them for 1 minute. While cursed:

The creature has disadvantage on saving throws against your spells and abilities.

If the creature makes an attack or uses a harmful ability, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or become stunned until the end of its next turn. You can have only one active Judge Enma’s Curse at a time.

Scales of Justice

When you reach 10th level, you gain the ability to shift the scales of fate to protect the just and punish the wicked. When you or an ally within 30 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to transfer part of the damage to a creature marked by your Karmic Seal. The marked creature takes half the damage that was dealt (rounded up), and the original target takes half damage. You can use this feature once per short or long rest.

Karmic Retribution

At 14th level, you can unleash devastating karmic energy to judge the wicked. As an action, you can spend 5 Karma Points to target a creature within 60 feet that you can see. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is wracked by visions of its past misdeeds, taking 10d10 psychic damage and becoming paralyzed for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and is not paralyzed.

While paralyzed, the creature can make a Wisdom saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Sutra Invocation: Sutra of the Karmic Mirror

When you choose the Way of the Karmic Judge at 3rd level, you gain access to the Sutra of the Karmic Mirror.
Sutra of the Karmic Mirror As an action, you can recite this sutra to create a reflective barrier around yourself and up to three allies within 30 feet for 1 minute. Whenever a protected creature takes damage, the attacker takes radiant or necrotic damage equal to the damage dealt (maximum of twice your level per attack). Additionally, attackers must make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn. Once you use this Sutra Invocation, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.